Woods and Reed Will Get a Second Chance In Saturday’s Four-Balls Match

Mark Soltau

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – Europe stormed back to sweep the afternoon foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and will take a 5-3 advantage into the second day of the 42nd Ryder Cup Matches at Le Golf National.

After falling 3-1 in the morning fourballs session (best ball), the hosts regrouped to blank the Americans, with none of the four Yank squads moving past the 16th hole.

It was the first time since 1989 that the European side has claimed all four matches.

Competing for the eighth time in his career but first since 2012, Tiger Woods and partner Patrick Reed dropped a close 3 and 1 decision to Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood in fourballs.

“We just couldn’t put any pressure on them,” said Woods. “We couldn’t answer them. They put it on us pretty hard.”

The duo took a 2-up lead when Woods birdied No. 9 and Reed chipped in for a birdie at No. 10. But Molinari countered with consecutive birdies at 11 and 12 to square the match, and Woods and Reed failed to add another birdie.

Woods did not play in the afternoon session.

“My game is just fine,” he said. “My cut wasn’t really cutting off the tee today. I was hammering it. The ball was going far. It was going straight, but it was not cutting. I can accept that. That’s really no big deal. My putting feels solid. I’ll be ready come tomorrow whenever Captain puts me out.”

Woods and Reed get a second chance against Molinari and Fleetwood on Saturday morning in fourballs. They tee off at 2:40 a.m. ET.

The format remains the same Saturday morning and afternoon. On Sunday, 12 singles matches will be contested.

In all, 28 points are available. As defending champion, the U.S. needs only a tie to retain the trophy.

On Saturday, Golf Channel will provide coverage from 2-3 a.m. ET, then it shifts to NBC from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. On Sunday, NBC will provide final day coverage from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.